Launching Into The Deep
3 MIN. READ
A New Strategic Plan Positions AU Through 2040
On the day that Jesus called Peter as a disciple, Jesus was preaching to a multitude from Peter’s boat. When Jesus finished speaking, he commanded Peter to “launch out into the deep.” He answered with some initial reluctance due to being tired, but replied to Jesus, “Nevertheless, due to your word I will let down my net.” What resulted was a miraculous catch of fish.
Thousands of years later, Anderson University is listening to the same command Peter received from Jesus as it enters a new multiphase strategic plan, Launch 2040. The plan, which began in 2022, was motivated by the question, “What does AU need to do today in order to be ready for students 18 years from now, along with all of the others who will come into contact with the university until then?” Students born in 2022 will step on campus as freshmen in 2040. Thus, Launch 2040 was born.
“Launch will position Anderson University for the future and gives us an opportunity to lean into the dynamic changes happening in higher education,” said President John S. Pistole. At the heart of the matter, as has been the case for more than 100 years, is Anderson University’s students and the university’s steadfast mission to educate for a life of faith and service.
“We believe that education is a transformative experience that has the power to shape our students in a holistic manner,” said Provost Dr. Courtney Taylor. “As a Christ-centered university, we are called to nurture and develop our students’ intellectual abilities, while also fostering their spiritual growth and commitment to serving others. Launch 2040 is a plan that elevates that which is best about Anderson University.”
Launch 2040 is a wide ranging plan that will touch all areas of the university in some form, but the strategic planning team narrowed the plan down to four key themes.
CHRIST-CENTERED
First and foremost, Jesus means everything to us. We seek to place Jesus as the foundation and center of all that we do as an institution.
INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY
We are a people committed to being relationally driven. We seek to emphasize and expand this key strength of our campus community.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Our students come to us in search of many opportunities. We seek to support them as whole persons and engage them in transformative experiences.
CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT AND RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP
In order to achieve long term sustainability, we must be faithful stewards of the resources we have been entrusted with and improve the way that we operate. Our success is linked not only to finances, but also to the wellbeing of our employees, students, alumni, and community.
Creating a plan that spans 18 years is no small feat, and it has become an all-hands-on-deck operation on campus. It began in November 2022 through March 2023 with the strategic planning team engaging the entire campus community, along with alumni and friends of the university, through surveys aimed at discerning what the plan should include.
Following the surveys, campuswide listening sessions were held, and a three-year plan was then created to best position the university on a strong trajectory for the years ahead. This initial three-year plan is phase one of Launch 2040.
“The surveys were very helpful,” said Dr. Taylor. “We were able to take the wisdom of the entire campus community and leverage it quickly.”
Now, the real work begins. Through the first steps, AU was able to identify at a high level what the university would like to do, but now it’s a matter of how to best go about achieving those goals. Dr. Taylor believes that it’s part of everyone’s job at AU to speak into the process and ideas to ensure the goals are met.
Why did AU decide to develop a new strategic plan? For starters, the university’s previous plan spanned five years and had an expiration date of May 2023. The previous plan focused on making AU an outstanding place to learn and work, fiscal strength, and forward thinking.
Those four pillars of the previous plan are still relevant and important to AU, but they are now positioned as outcomes in Launch 2040. If the university leans into the four themes of Launch 2040, it will achieve the four pillars of the previous plan.
The success of Launch 2040 will be measured in a variety of ways. Pistole believes two key areas are how the university makes itself more available to all students who seek to make a difference in the world using their educational achievements, as well as how AU is able to involve the surrounding Anderson community. In the spring of 2023, AU applied for and received a $250,000 planning grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. with the goal of also receiving some or all of a larger $25 million grant, which will be announced in the spring of 2024.
With the planning funds, AU is collaborating with leaders in the city of Anderson, Madison County, local churches, hospitals, education, community stakeholders, and social service providers to develop a transformative neighborhood revitalization plan. The collaboration involves exploration of a variety of infrastructure and programming projects to enhance the Park Place neighborhood surrounding Anderson University and complement planned developments to the east corridor of downtown.
“As Anderson University thrives, that helps the surrounding neighborhood and the city of Anderson,” said Pistole. “I think people realize that, and I’m excited by the possibilities of this grant.”
To Pistole’s first measure of success, Anderson University will diversify the student body throughout the course of Launch 2040. The traditional undergraduate, residential campus will be complemented by a more robust adult program, along with more graduate degree offerings. In addition, AU will look to offer non-credit or non-degree options for an underserved demographic of students looking to continue their education without pursuing a degree.
“Some people may not come here for a degree, but Anderson University will still be a place that educates for a life of faith and service,” said Dr. Taylor. “The ‘educate’ part does not have to mean an 18 to 22-year old sitting in a classroom.”
As AU looks to expand its offerings, online learning opportunities will increase as well. While some already exist, part of Launch 2040 will study what additional programs are needed. Exciting times are ahead for the 106-year-old Anderson FALL 2023 | 27 University, and all are invited to be a part of the coming changes.
“I would encourage alumni and friends of the university to reach out if they have questions about Launch,” said Pistole. “We are all about impacting lives for Christ and the kingdom. I would encourage anyone to look into this plan and if you feel encouraged and inspired by it, to come alongside us and support us through this.”
While the plan is to strengthen the university, Dr. Taylor hopes it will be clear what the university’s top priority is.
“First and foremost, Jesus means everything to us, and that’s why we’re doing this. That is what motivates us, and we don’t want that to get lost amongst anything else.”
With nets cast and a plan in place, the future starts now for Anderson University.
Launch 2040
ON OUR PATH TO 2040, ANDERSON UNIVERSITY WILL WELCOME MORE STUDENTS TO OUR CHRIST-CENTERED COMMUNITY, WHERE THEY WILL LEARN AND GROW IN REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY KNOWN PROGRAMS OF EXCELLENCE. OUR STUDENTS WILL ENGAGE IN TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCES DURING THEIR TIME WITH US AND WILL BUILD MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS, LEADING TO FULFILLING CAREERS AND LIVES OF PURPOSE.
Anderson University is on a mission to educate students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 60 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 20 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult and graduate programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized among top colleges for its business, computer science, cybersecurity, dance, engineering, nursing, and teacher education programs. Anderson University was established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God.